Apparatus containing a sensing element for the treatment of skin

• US 20050148833A1
• Filed: 12/24/2003
• Published: 07/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Narsana, Tushar, Hull, Raymond J. Jr., Skover, Gregory, Cronin, John, Rytel, John F., Burrows, Mark
• Application Number:
  US10/746,701
• Publication Number:
  US 20050148833A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/309
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2200/207 Vibration, e.g. ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 34/04 Appliances specially adapted for applying liquid, e.g. using roller or ball
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/54 Chiropodists' instruments , e.g. pedicure chiropractic devices A61H1/008
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00747 Dermatology
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00761 Removing layer of skin tissue, e.g. wrinkles, scars or cancerous tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 15/02 adapted for simultaneous treatment with light, heat or drugs
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/105 with means for delivering media, e.g. drugs or cosmetics
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 7/004 power-driven, e.g. electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 7/005 hand-held
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/07 Retinol compounds, e.g. vitamin A retinoic acids A61K31/203
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/41 Amines
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/64 Proteins; Peptides; Derivatives or degradation products thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/671 Vitamin A; Derivatives thereof, e.g. ester of vitamin A acid, ester of retinol, retinol, retinal
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 19/00 Preparations for care of the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 19/02 for chemically bleaching or whitening the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 19/08 Anti-ageing preparations

Abstract

The invention features an apparatus for delivering mechanical energy to an expanse of skin, wherein the apparatus includes: (a) a user output assembly, the user output assembly including: (i) a skin-contactable element having a skin contactable surface; (ii) a motor; and (iii) a transfer member for transferring energy from the motor to the skin-contactable element a transfer member for transferring energy from the motor to the skin-contactable element; (b) a sensing element in communication with the skin-contactable surface, wherein the sensing element is capable of sensing a state of at least one property associated with the expanse of skin, wherein the at least one property is selected from the group consisting of a thermal property, a chemical property, an optical property, and combinations thereof; and (c) a controller coupled to the sensing element and to the user output assembly, wherein the controller provides action instructions to the user output assembly based upon one or more of the at least one property sensed by the sensing element.

Claims

1. An apparatus for delivering mechanical energy to an expanse of skin, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a user output assembly, the user output assembly comprising;

(i) a skin-contactable element having a skin contactable surface;

(ii) a motor; and

(iii) a transfer member for transferring energy from said motor to said skin-contactable element a transfer member for transferring energy from said motor to said skin-contactable element;

(b) a sensing element in communication with the skin-contactable surface, wherein the sensing element is capable of sensing a state of at least one property associated with said expanse of skin, wherein said at least one property is selected from the group consisting of a thermal property, a chemical property, an optical property, and combinations thereof; and

(c) a controller coupled to the sensing element and to said user output assembly, wherein said controller provides action instructions to the user output assembly based upon one or more of said at least one property sensed by said sensing element.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the one or more properties comprises a thermal property.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the one or more properties comprises a chemical property.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the one or more properties comprises an optical property.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the chemical property is a concentration of a chemical moiety in contact with the skin.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the chemical moiety is a hydrogen ion.

7. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the optical property is selected from the group consisting of reflectivity, transmissivity, absorbtivity, fluorescence, light scattering, and combinations thereof.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the action instructions are for effecting a time-dependent motion of a skin-contactable surface.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the action instructions are for effecting a delivery rate of a composition from the apparatus to the skin.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the user output assembly further comprises an indicator coupled to the controller, wherein the indicator is capable of emitting energy selected from the group consisting of light, sound, heat, vibration, and combinations thereof, in order to communicate with a user proximate the apparatus.

11. A method for delivering mechanical energy to skin, said method comprising contacting an expanse of skin with a skin-contactable surface of the apparatus of claim 1.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the one or more properties comprises a thermal property.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the one or more properties comprises a chemical property.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the one or more properties comprises an optical property.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the chemical property is a concentration of a chemical moiety in contact with the skin.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the chemical moiety is a hydrogen ion.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the optical property is selected from the group consisting of reflectivity, transmissivity, absorbtivity, fluorescence, light scattering, and combinations thereof.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein the action instructions are for effecting a time-dependent motion of a skin-contactable surface.

19. The method of claim 11 wherein the action instructions are for effecting a delivery rate of a composition from the apparatus to the skin.

20. The method of claim 11 wherein the user output assembly further comprises an indicator coupled to the controller, wherein the indicator is capable of emitting energy selected from the group consisting of light, sound, heat, vibration, and combinations thereof, in order to communicate with a user proximate the apparatus.